KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ON COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG SUB-URBAN COMMUNITY IN SEPANG, SELANGOR

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Over the past decade, occurrence of colorectal cancer had escalated markedly in the Asian countries (Sung et al., 2008). World Health Organization (WHO) had reported that incidence of colorectal cancer is of rapid upsurge in many Asian countries, such as China, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Besides the fact that early detection of abnormalities in gut lining recuperates prognostic prospect apart from convalescence and preservation of good quality of life, uptake rate is prominent determinant of disease prevention. This research is piloted with an aim to study the knowledge on risk factors and symptoms of colorectal cancer and its association with attitude towards partaking in colorectal cancer screening. While knowledge enables us to gauge the efficiency of mass edification with regards to colorectal cancer and its detrimental impact on health, we too could assess the community member’s general stance towards patronizing in screening programmes, which is crucial for health promotion as well as disease prevention.

Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-assisted interview (incorporating adaptation of validated Bowel Cancer Awareness Measure inquiry form), was conducted among respondents aged more than 15 years old to assess their knowledge and attitude towards colorectal cancer screening tests. Endpoint of the research was targeted to discover the association between the knowledge and attitude towards CRC screening via statistical methods namely Pearson Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact Test.

Result: Among those 104 aspirants, who were interviewed, 95% of participants had poor knowledge on risk factors of colorectal cancer as well as symptoms (both vague and explicit) and its screening programme and amidst those with poor knowledge, 95% of respondents aged more than 50 years old. As many as 78.8% of partakers revealed pessimism towards the screening programs where 92.3% of total respondents never had partaken in colorectal cancer screening programmes. However, poor knowledge does not coincide with discouragement towards practice of screening programmes where the association could not be established (Fisher’s Exact Test with p-value = 0.582).

Conclusion: The knowledge towards risk factors, symptoms and screening methods for colorectal cancer were imminently poor in the community. In addition, the knowledge does not influence populaces’ perception towards practice of screening programmes where 7.1%, 25.0% and none of the respondents with poor, moderate and good erudition on colorectal cancer respectively had underwent the screening. Therefore, comprehensive outreach programmes are necessitated to enlighten our community towards comprehending the emergent of colorectal cancer as our nation’s second most commonly occurring neoplasms only next to breast cancer. Citizens too need to be counselled to realize the benefits of disease-preventive and early-diagnostic approach of the screening tools.